In achieving gender equality, how does one address the large remaining gap between policy and practice? What are the interrelationships among health, education and work for enabling women’s participation in development? What conditions facilitate women’s representation in decision-making processes? What difference would women’s presence in decision-making bodies make on policy formulation and political institutions?

These are questions governments will address at the 50th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW), which will be held from February 27 to March 10, 2006 in New York.

The 50th session of the CSW will consider the following two themes:
- Enhanced participation of women in development: an enabling environment for achieving gender equality and the advancement of women, taking into account the fields of education, health and work.
- Equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels.

Prior to the meeting, round table discussions will be held on February 9 (creating an enabling environment for women’s advancement) and on February 14 (women’s participation in decision-making). Aside from the open meetings, parallel sessions will take place, with the NGO Committee on the Status of Women scheduled to hold its annual Consultation on February 26.

The CSW was established as a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1946 to prepare recommendations to the council on promoting women's political, economic, civil, social, and educational rights. It regularly reviews the Beijing Platform for Action and the Beijing + 5 Outcome Document, to ensure their effective implementation. Originally a 15-member body, it now consists of 45 members elected for a period of four years.

For more information, visit the UN CSW website at <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/50sess.htm>.